Winery Adventure: Jessie's Grove, Lodi

Lodi is known for its old vines. This is zinfandel country, after all, where the grapes date back to the 19th century. But the ones outside the Jessie's Grove Estate Winery tasting room are gnarled and ancient -- some more than 120 years old -- and a museum on the property offers a blast to the past and stories galore. The land was settled by Joseph Spenker, who had just 27 cents in his pocket when he arrived in 1868. Be sure to ask how long he knew his wife before they wed.

The 32-acre grove, named after Spenker's daughter, once served as a community center for the surrounding towns. These days, that grove plays host to live bands in the summer, and visitors are invited to camp after the show and enjoy a pancake breakfast with the winery staff in the morning. One staffer confided that their pancakes are so good because they're made with the winery's late harvest wine.

The tasting room at Jessie's Grove Winery in Lodi hosts concerts in the summer and indoor picnics in the winter. (Courtesy of Jessie's Grove)

During the winter, you can bring a picnic to enjoy inside the rustic tasting room while admiring the farm animals roaming the estate.

The details: The old estate tasting room is open daily at 1973 W. Turner Road in Lodi. The winery has a new tasting room downtown -- which is less than 5 miles away -- in the Olde Ice House, 27 E. Locust St. It's open Fridays through Sundays; www.jessiesgrovewinery.com.

The sips: This is Lodi, so it's all about old-vine zinfandel, but you can expect to taste chardonnay, merlot, and several ports, too.

More stops: Lodi has an abundance of tasting rooms downtown. The Ice House is one of at least 10 within a few blocks of each other. Find details at lodiwine.com.